Walk on Wales, the idea of two veteran Welsh Guards who served in the Falklands War, set off from the Senedd in Cardiff Bay over the weekend.

There will be 11 teams – more than 100 people – walking the 870-mile coastal route in a relay, carrying a silver baton inscribed with the names of 50 Welsh Guardsmen who died while serving their country in conflicts since World War II.

The walk’s aim is to raise £1m for soldiers returning from Afghanistan and for veterans of other conflicts from Wales.

The money will focus on helping veterans suffering with the effects of injuries sustained in conflict as well as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The concept was thought up by two veteran Welsh Guards David Graham and Jan Koops (corr), both of whom served in the Falklands War.

Jan, who served in the Welsh Guards from 1978 to 1982 and saw active service in the Falklands and Northern Ireland, will be walking the entire coast with another Welsh Guards veteran Rod Morgan.

Inspired by memories of those who did not return with him from the Falklands, Jan said: “This is a very personal journey of remembrance for me, a pilgrimage that I have wanted to do for many years.

“Too many of my fellow soldiers died in the Falklands and too many more still suffer from the impact of that conflict and conflicts since.

“I hope that this walk will allow us to acknowledge those who died and help those who are in need.”

There was a special open service for the walk at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff on Sunday.

And a ceremony at the walk’s launch saw music from the Treorchy Male Voice Choir and the walkers being played out by City of Newport Pipes and Drums band.

The first leg, led by Paul Conlon – a Welsh Guard from 1979 to 1990 – was scheduled to go just short of 18 miles from Peterston Wentlooge, Newport, to Goldcliff, Newport, yesterday. (Monday August 26)

It will finish in Chepstow tomorrow Wednesday, (August 28) before the second leg from Chester to Bangor begins on Thursday.

The walk will finish back in Cardiff Bay on November 2 and, so far, more than 2,000 people have signed up for different parts of the walk and nearly £150,000 raised.

Major Alun Bowen, of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards,

said: “The teams gather in Cardiff and walk down to Chepstow.

“The first leg is four days and they are carrying a baton and specially-commissioned inside is a scroll with names of the 50 members of the Welsh Guards who have lost their lives since the Second World War in conflict.

“The baton will make its way all the way around Wales and finish back in Cardiff in early November.

“It picks up the theme of dealing with the here and now of physical injuries but is also looking ahead.

“The reality is we do need a big pot of money to provide logistics down the line and need more awareness of PTSD and the effects of PTSD.

“We are working hard to make sure we connect with civilian organisations like the NHS and charitable organisations and also, soldiers when they leave the MoD are picked up by the NHS and identified as being a risk.”

Organisers say the vision for Wales on Wales is to remember and acknowledge the contribution of the 50 Welsh Guardsmen who have died on active service since the end of the Second World War as well as creating a legacy today for the veterans of tomorrow.

To donate towards the £1m fund-raising target for the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal and Combat Stress, you can visit www.walkonwales.org